What sort of things do they ask at the jsa interview?

highhopes19

I applied for income support online and they said that I'd need to go to an interview which is tomorrow morning, I'm really really nervous, I've never claimed any benefit in my life apart from working tax and child tax credits.

I had to cut my hours down at work from 20 to 8 hours when I went back from maternity leave, so my current wages a month are only £206. I still live with my parents.

What sort of things will they ask me at my interview?

athenajm

It depends what you're claiming IS for. If you're a lone parent then they'd discuss your plans for when your youngest is 5 (I think). They'll let you know of any support, training etc that you can go on and will explain how often you'll be called for these interviews.

If you're claiming because you're pregnant, pretty similar to above, only change when your youngest is 5 to when the bay is born.

If you're claiming as a top-up to Carers Allowance, then it would be more along the lines of will you be looking for work while caring, support for carers etc.

The interview (at least in the office in which I work) are primarily to check ID, get paperwork signed and ensure that you are aware of all the help and support that can be available to you. It's nothing to worry about, I know my customers often get worried about IS interviews but then look very relieved when they come in and realise that it's about supporting and helping them rather than demanding they look for work or whatever.

highhopes19

athenajm wrote: »

It depends what you're claiming IS for. If you're a lone parent then they'd discuss your plans for when your youngest is 5 (I think). They'll let you know of any support, training etc that you can go on and will explain how often you'll be called for these interviews.

If you're claiming because you're pregnant, pretty similar to above, only change when your youngest is 5 to when the bay is born.

If you're claiming as a top-up to Carers Allowance, then it would be more along the lines of will you be looking for work while caring, support for carers etc.

The interview (at least in the office in which I work) are primarily to check ID, get paperwork signed and ensure that you are aware of all the help and support that can be available to you. It's nothing to worry about, I know my customers often get worried about IS interviews but then look very relieved when they come in and realise that it's about supporting and helping them rather than demanding they look for work or whatever.

Thankyou for your reply... Will I need to take my tax credit forms with me and also do I need to let tax credits know that I'm in reciept of income support. I tried ringing them to ask but their systems were updating today.

Does passing the form online and getting the interview automatically mean that mean entitled to IS and will get it?


Sorry for all the questions